Life After

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John 5:28-29

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

There is coming a day when each of us, whether Christian or otherwise, will find out exactly what is beyond the curtain of time. The Bible promises Eternal Life to some, and to others, it promises damnation. Every human being throughout history has surely asked himself, “What will happen to me when I die?”

Long before there was ever a Bible to read, the prophet Job watched nature. He talked about the hope of a tree, how it would be cut down and die, yet through the scent of water, it springs back to life and puts out fresh buds. Job knew that a man, like the tree, would again rise to life:

If a man die, shall he live again?
all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

Job may not have had a Bible to read, but he knew that God would one day resurrect him from the grave when the Redeemer of mankind came forth.

Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!

That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever.

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body,
yet in my flesh shall I see God:
(Job 19:23-26)

The prophet was speaking of the Lord Jesus and the resurrection of His people. By revelation Job knew that though our bodies might completely wither away, Jesus will restore our flesh. And with our own eyes, we will see His Coming. All of God’s people long to see that glorious day.

However, just as sure as God exists, there is also a devil; and just as sure as there is Heaven, there is also hell. The stakes are higher than we can imagine. The Apostle Paul said that,
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
(I Cor. 2:9)

Our minds cannot comprehend how great Heaven will be, and neither can they comprehend the horrors of hell. Jesus told us that hell is so bad that it would be better if we cut off a member of our body than risk going to that horrible place.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
(Mark 9:43)

So who will go to Heaven? And who will go to hell? It’s a sad thought, but Jesus said that most people will not receive the reward that He is willing to give:
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.
(Matt 7:13-14)

Jesus also said,
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
(Matt 7:21-23)

Just because a person claims Christianity does not mean that he is saved. So, this is the obvious question in our minds: How do I receive Eternal Life? Jesus gave us a very simple answer:
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
(John 5:24)

Unfortunately, there are so few people in the world today who are willing to take time from their busy days to hear the Word of God. And there are even fewer who will believe the Word once they have heard it.

The churches tell us to be a good person, think positively, don’t lie, cheat, or steal, and we will go to Heaven. They don’t understand that hell will be full of people that seem to live good lives. The reality is that we won’t go to Heaven because of our righteous deeds or because we are a member of a certain church. There is only one path to Eternal Life, and that is through Jesus Christ. He instructed us that we must BELIEVE His Word, which is the Bible. Otherwise, how could we be saved?

When the day of judgment comes for you, will you hear, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,” (Matt 25:34) or will you hear, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels”? (Matt 25:41)

As your eyes read across these words, you have a choice to make: Will you choose to believe God’s Word?

Where will you spend eternity?

References

Job 14:12-16

So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin?

Job 19:23-26

Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!

That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Matthew 7:21-23

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Matthew 22:14

For many are called, but few are chosen.

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

John 5:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

I Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.